Improvement in fire-extinguishers



C. H. THUM PSON.

Fire-Ext inguish'elf's.

Patented May 12 WITNESS ES UNITED STATES APATENT OEEIOE.

oHARLEs E. THOMPSON, OE CLEVELAND, OHIO, AssicNOR TOAg J. JUIL- LARD, OENEW YORK, N. Y.

IMPROVEMENT IN FIRE-ExTlNeulsHERs.

Specication forming part of Letters Patent N0. 150,730, dated May 12,1874; application filed April 1, 1874.

OAsE A.

To all whom may concern Be it known that I, CHARLES II. THOMR SON, ofCleveland, Ohio, have Vinvented certain new and useful Improvements invGas- Generators for Fire-Extinguishers; and I do hereby declare thefollowing to be a full and correct description of the same, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings, in Whichy Figure 1 is a verticalcentral section of my improved generator on line y 'y of Fig. 3. Fig. 2is a view ofthe top ofthe apparatus. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section online a; .n of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a detached view of the revolving bottomplate. Y

The same part is marked by the same letter of reference wherever itoccurs.

My invention relates to that class of fireextinguishers in which thegeneration of the carbonio-acid gas is effected by dropping successivecharges of carbonate of soda into an acid solution contained in thegas-generating chamber. It consists in placing in the upper part of thegas-generator a series of cylinders for holding the carbonate of soda,any one of which cylinders can be opened at the bottom to discharge thesoda into the acid by meansof a revolving bottom plate having a circularhole cut in it of equal diameter with the cylinders, which hole can byturning the plate be brought directly under either cylinder when it isdesired to empty it, all as hereinafter more particularlyset forth.

In the drawings, A marks the walls of the I large cylinder forming thegenerating-chamber. The bottom plate B of this cylinder is united by therods G C, &c., to the top plate D, and secured by the nutsia n, Snc. Inthe plate D are three circular openings to receive the cylinders E F G,which are open at top and bottom, and provided with covers II, which canbe screwed on.' In each ot' these cylinders is accurately tted a piston,I, provided With a piston-rod, K,which runs through a boss on the top ofthe cover H, and is provided with a handle, L, at top, by which thepiston can be drawn up orforced down when required. A vertical shaft, M,is stepped in the middle of the bottom B of the generatingchamber, andprojects through a boss on the center of the top plate D. To it isattached the circular plate N, which turns in close contact with theopen bottoms of the cylinders E F G. This plate has a circular hole, P,cut in itlof equal diameter with those cylinders. An, index, Q, attachedto the top of shaft M, is placed'directly over the hole l?, so as toindicate the position of the hole in every posi- 'tion of plate N. R isa winch on the end of horizontal shaft, S, entering cylinder .A througha sleeve, V, and carrying a friction- Wheel on its inner end, whichturns 1n contact withthe lower side of plate N, and iinparts rotarymotion to it. By turning the 'winch the hole P can be brought under thelower end of either of the cylinders E F G, and the index Q will alwayspoint to the cylinder under which the hole is placed. W is thedischarge-openin g for the delivery of the gas.

aThe operation is as follows: Dilute sulphuric acid is placed in thegenerating-cylinder. The plate N is turned so that the hole P shallnotbe under either of the cylinders E F G. Those cylinders are filledwith carbonate of soda, and the covers 'H are screwed down, the pistonsI resting on top of the charge. The apparatus is then ready for use. Togenerate a supply of gas the winch R is turned, so as to bring the holeP under the bottoni of one of the cylinders. The piston of that cylinderis then drivendown, and the charge ot' soda which it contained isdropped into the acid solution, and furnishes by its decomposition asupply of carbonio-acid gas, which is delivered through oriiceWto hoseor pipes for use at the desired point. By further turning plate N thesecond and third cylinders can be discharged in a like manner into thegenerator, while the first is receiving a fresh charge ofsoda. Thus acontinuous succession of charges cani be dropped into the dilute aciduntil its capacity to decompose the soda has been exhausted.l The usualarra-n gements may be made for drawing off the effete liquid, andreplacing it by a fresh solution. y

The apparatus may be made of any desired size, and may be mounted on acarriage for transportation in the ordinary Way.

Having thus fully described my invention, What I claim, and desire tosecurev by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination, with the gas-generating chamber A, of the cylindersD E F, provided with the pistons I, and the revolving plate N, With itshole, l?, all constructed and in the manner and for the purpose setforth.

2. The combination of the Winch R, shaft ST wheel T, plate N, shaft M,and index Q, in the manner and for the purpose described.

The above specification of my said invention signed and witnessed atWashington, this 22d day of January, A. D. 1874.

CHARLES H. THOMPSON.

